Electrolytic cell



Aug. 12 1924.

Original Filed June 12 1920 SSES Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC H. LEVIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL. 3

Application filed June 12, 1920, Serial No. 388,430. Renewed October 26, 1923.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, IsAAc H. LEVIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. 7 My invention relates to electrolytic cells, and more particularly to a feed water system for such cells of the unipolar type by means of which the water in the electrolyte which has been decomposed will be replaced by a fresh supply. of distilled water in accordance with the need of the cell.

Heretofore in electrolytic cells of the unipolar type used for generating oxygen and hydrogen, it has been the common practice to supply each cell with a fill cup having one or more pipes extending therefrom and terminating adjacent the normal level of the electrolyte in the cell. When such fill cups are used, it is necessary forthe operator of a battery to inspect the cups from time to time. and refill them with distilled water as the supply of water stored thereinbecomes exhausted. These cups in addition to their function of renewing the supply of distilled water in the electrolvte, also serveas safety devices to permit a blowout of gases in the event that the level of the electrolyte adjacent the discharge end of the pipe leading from the cup to within the cell, reaches a subnormal levelreither through a failure to properly deliver distilled water into the cell. or through the development of execssive pressures u on one side, or the other, of

the diaphragm rom any reason whatsoever.

In a cell made in accordance with my invention, I provide means in conjunction with an electrolytic couple of the unipolar type wherein a cell, or each of the cells of a battery, will have distilled water delivered thereto from a storage tank containingsame, whenever such is required, as determinedby the working conditions within a cell.

Unipolar cells, particularly those of the type wherein the tank for the electrolyte is formed by the cathode of the cell, have a cover forming the gas chambers, a hydraulic joint open to atmosphere being formed about top ofthe tank and a pendent flange 7 upon the cover. The liquid forming the seal of said joint sometimes is connected withthe space within the tank so that the conditions of this seal will vary according to different pressure conditions within the tank, and permit a blowout through this seal in the event of the development of excessive pressures in the tank, this blowout feature being supplemental to that afforded by the fill cup.

In such a hydraulic joint, the level of the Water will under normal conditions be considerably higher than within the cell, due to the relatively greater area ofthe body of electrolyte in the cell and the relatively higher or superatmospheric pressure acting upon said larger area. Hence during the operation of a cell, the water in the outer trough of the hydraulic joint is subject to much greater variation than is the level of the electrolyte within the tank, and in the event of a cell being shut down, the level of the electrolyte Within the tank will rise while that in the outer trough of the hydraulic joint will be lowered to a disproportionately greater extent than the rise of the level of the water within the tank. Hence while the hydraulic joint at the top of the tank may be used as a medium for filling the cell, the level of the water in this joint does not truly represent the conditions within the cell. and it is therefore more desirable to renew the supply of distilled water by delivering it directly into the body of electrolyte within the tank.

In a cell made in accordance with my invention, I provide a distributing pipe leading from a reservoir containing distilled water and having a dischar e pipe opening into the cell slightly below t e normal level of the electrolyte therein. Said discharge pipe has in its length a valve mechanism controlled by a float acted upon by the electrolyte in the cell, so that water will be delivered to the cell only when a drop of the level of the electrolyte is such as to permit a fall of the float sufficient to actuate said valve. Immediately upon sufficient water having entered the cell to restore the normal level, the valve is closed by the rise of the float.

By controlling the flow of distilled water to the cell in this manner, I not only secure ;the automatic renewing of the supply of prevent any distilledwitter fiogn ilig him the cell from the reservoir, while the cell is not in operation. Furthermore by arranging the float With"- in the tank, the control of the valye will not be influenced to any eppreciebleext'rit by varyingpressure conditions with n the cell, since there will be no substantial variation in. the level of the electrolyte upon either side of the dielphragrn,witliin the cell, since although there may bee material flow of electrolyte from one si de of the die phlegm to the other with e lluctua ion g) q pressure, upon opposite s des of the the a cell of the unipolar type embodying a tank a, forming the cathode or negative electrode, the

top of which tank is closed by a suitable cover I) forming gas chambers adjacent the top of the cell and co-operating with the upper porti on gfthe tank a in a manner to permitthe free cifiilttidn of the electrolyte adjacent the upper part of the cell, from one side of the diaphragm to adjacent the other side thereof The detaileol construction of thisv grater circulation and the hydraulic ipiyi ts i s;npt e s's enti2 ml to n i y presentinven- 1on wh gg rgletgs rnore pgrticulerl to the r e tthe e we Q net lfi r fi llgl l f xn eu q i ell l s i s 'i not be sufficiently great as compared w thlzwzter inloltheicelli to replace that decomthe entire IIlfiSSOff -WQLBI in the cell, to they terii lly effect the level of the electrolyte sus'' n: I i lHence the actuation of the'ye lve by the rise and fall off he flee w llt ep end lfilifi" v up mme tioitot the lectrolyteia s v e result of the econi p0si'tion thereof a n c the, formation of the tn o gases, ,sothat the.v r newal of the supply of water w ll be pro- ,lp firemen 1 f thece T e upp'er partof the taiiktt ztjt rough about the gdge t ereof forn edjbyfl the Walls .a'e tzi 'nhl eithe m iai s'tii 'v d d with flees m l tes l ,;s.tre 1B the Well flf lu lg ng fii. e r ryl nsi pl 53 q e t ek g ni hinse d fle gelfl The flange; ,ha;s at o e I point tbereof a n opening'c theretlir 'ugl 'end the trough formed medi teeg h k portionate to the rate of decomposition ot by the pl ete co gr r'iunice tes with the outer e tr y e- To pern iit the use of the filling device {L yent in the event of a blowout, I prefer;

, a n time mrth Ne ie? 'i tr ugh fl t ro g a horizq tel ig x end n tube .3 2 Pagmg through ciently large 0 bl vide break the lengih of rthe "toipernit floy'v pf the eleotrolyte into the ensure the feed ot distilled Wate th llyt' l discharge pi )e to eeph [cell and surroii j t :oughflormed I twee t thejwgill 1: 1nd the this break vlth group, Although the fe z flflongefi' I %1p- V V 1 l',hlhlfl3 c e'll I n' this mansystem may be used Wither Without this cup I per 1;; t' chambers ere fori ed within feature, I, prefer to use thecup, as it will tank and n aintuiii substantial uniform-hi;

o s d1-0stnt1o pressure conditions effecting the etlmcept feedJyt gill tin es W i I The in ention conslsts przmt-irily in an electrolytic cell enibodyil ,tller ei n a p i p e lending from a source of ctist' lled Water su ly and ,discherr in Witl in a cell belowsponsive to variations of the lievel of i v i 1 l e norm v 0f h elect o yt be e e t fl ir e tu 9 1 -5 9 e ti emeans for said yelyecornprising means 'reiielestrblyte in hfii li fi we m i on-t,

. nectionsbetween said meansend said valve 5; t l t in the cell reaches ef subnorqtal le tsio.

7 in the cell is at i other novel features of construction, i

H Fig. 's: a. longitudinal; Vfllilll whereby said vrilve will be opened when the 7 level and willbeclosedwhen the electrolyte;

the norn iel leyel; and in such combingtion of perts es :rre hereina fter as t d out in the claims hereto appended.

the cgll, ecentllie bfan'd: 1e electrois gern li llted toQflOwf; through variroughsjn either}.directlon the trough A tl ie wetll I o fi'orclingir vent to gtmo sphg re n the y pfi f the development of excess ye pressures in the cell.

diaphrgg n between the inner and the outer eectrggle slindi a the inner electrode begng intlirited -gt The termiie-e e d m i h w I mew-9 onteining' a r We r fie el at m emt i si stig l ti grate to sure t ,e col itggu @pemtion of the battery Qf el t ee t I We Mee 4w :trijbu t ln g p ge q jigging a plurelity of leads g' -on or fnore sl ecent'each cell, the out a at po nt s iglgtly below the e eel g zq I 0 o eectrolyte in t he cell. ech t. lqrzipeli leeds ere val yje controlled: any e'sire'd type of vilve as?! being therel nl 55 forth and descpibed'ymnd niore particular-y; used ehps gwilt heeed; i e in the P oyyout o yent th e ce to ensliirg a; onstgr'it hydrostet ic pressure upon l3 ,Qgf? .e gj 4i v fifig iacl ll tat e the applii L c. cation 0 t e to 11 mg val e lii chan sm to pessr yi tithin ,,thelcell end 5' 9 the feed water system and a more thorough insulation of this system so as to avoid any possible grounding of the circuit therethrough.

Slidably mounted upon the section 9 is a float j so constructed as to be immune to the action of electrolyte thereon. This float is connected in any desired manner as by the brackets j, to a connecting rod is passing vertically through the branch pipe 9 and pivotally connected to a rocking lever m pivoted to the bracket m, the short arm of this lever being connected with the valve h. The length of the two arms of the lever m is so proportioned that the valve will be opened only with a predetermined variance of the level of the electrolyte in a cell. The connecting rod k has an insulatin section In therein, which, together with t e gap between the end of the pipe 9 and the cup h, will effectively insulate the water feed sys torn from the cell.

The main distributing pipe 9 will extend parallel to each row of cells in a battery and a branch lead similar to g will extend therefrom so as to discharge into adjacent cells. By using a valve h in each of the several leads, the supply of water to each cell is entirely independent of the supply to any other cell, notwithstanding that all cells are supplied from a common source, and is determined solely by the working conditions within the cell fed through that valve.

The discharge pipe 9', and 9 leading into each cell, opens within the body of the cell as distinguished from any of the troughs, so that the rise and fallo-f the float 2' will be responsive only'to the rise and fall of the main body of electrolyte in the cell which will be more nearly proportionate to the rate of decomposition of the water of the electrolyte than the rise and fall of the electrolyte in any of the troughs would be. Furthermore, this arrangement of the actuatin means for the valve affords ample space or this mechanism and permits the use of pipes sufficiently large to ensure the rapid delivery of distilled water to within the tank.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows:-

In describing the operation of the device, it will be assumed that the tank 0; contains caustic soda, but has no distilled water therein. Under this condition, the float y will be in its lowermost position, and by its weight, and the weight of the rod kk', will have oscillated the arm m and full opened the valve h. Under this condition, distilled water will run from the tank f through the pipe 9, branch pipe 9 and section g thereof, into the fill cup 71 and thence through the branch of the lead 7' into the tank until the solution in the tank reaches a level which will raise said float 7', thus rocking the arm m in the opposite direction to close the valve 71- through the medium of the connecting rod k-Jr'.

Since the section 9 of the lead 9 is open to atmosphere through the fill cup 2', and since the seal about the top of the tank will not be closed until the level of the electrolyte in the cell approaches the normal workng level, it is apparent air will not be con1- pressed in the cell in a manner to interfere with the free. flow of distilled water there into.

l-Vith the fiow of the electric current through the cell, and the resultant decompo sition of the water of the electrolyte, there will be a drop of the level of the electrolyte within the cell due in part to the evolution of the gases and input to the development of slight pressure in the gas chambers at the top of the cell. At the same time there will be a rise in the level of the electrolyte in the trough between the walls a and m The electrolyte will also rise in the branch 7 of the lead 9 and the fill cup z', since it is apparent that as the lower end of this branch becomes submerged in the liquid within the cell, it will be necessary to build up the supply of water in said branch 9 and the cup i in order to secure sufiicient head to cause the water to flow so as to bring the electrolyte in the cell to the desired level.

W ith a continued drop of the level of the electrolyte in the cell, distilled Water will flow from within the cup 2 through the branch 9 into the cell, thus instantly restoring the normal level of the electrolyte until conditions within the cell and at the fill cup are such that before water will flow from the cup 71 to within the cell, the drop in the level of the electrolyte will be suflicicnt to permit the fall of the float in a manner to open the valve /r. This opening of the valve will deliver distilled water to the cup 71 until a sufficient head of water has been built up to cause it to flow readily to within the tank until the normal level of the electrolyte therein has been restored.

Under no circumstances will the distilled water ever flow in any substantial volume, there being an intermittent rise and fall of the float as working conditions within the cell demand, thus ensuring the presence of sufficient water in the cup 41 and branch 9 of the lead 1 to effectively seal the feed water system in a manner to prevent the escape of gases therethrough, except in the event of the development of excessive pressures within a cell due to a failure, for some reason, to evacuate gases generated with suiiicient rapidity.

By thus automatically and constantly renewing the supply of distilled water. the dangers of a blowout are very greatelv reduced, since there is no likelihood of the electrolyte reaching a subnormal level through a failure of the feed Water system.

l from the spirit and scope .of

safety vandat the same time avoids the necessity for the use of a stufling box. about the connecting rod la /l1. with resultant possibility of such friction as might cause a failure ofthe mechanism toact with the light powereaffonded byrtllfi float and its.

' appurtenances, Thisconstruction could be :2 used,.however. butwould-not be {found as.

1 said easing into a'plurality of communicatelficient inluseastha t herein described.

;-By locatingnthe float within the tank a 7 r instead of the outer trough between the ;-.:;walls a-b'. .or' the inner troughs formed enabled to secure a feed of the water more a enearly in accord with the rate of decomposition of the water of the electrolyte, since changes of. pressure conditions will cause 39 greater variance in the level of the electrolyte in said troughs than inthe greater body of electrolytein the body of the tank a. The level of the liquid in the trough open to atmosphere is subject to a material rise and fall with slight pressure variation within the cell and with but a small displacement of electrolyte. Consequently with a rise of the level in this trough, the valve ii i would be'closed notwithstanding that such 40 a use would occur only with a lowering of =the level of the electrolyte in the cell. Furthermore with-a drop of gas pressure within the cell, the level 025 the water in the trough would become lower, although the level of electrolyte-in the cell would become higher so that the valve It would be opened with a rise of level inthe cell. n While .1 haveshownthe section g of the lead g as opening within the celladjacent the anode, this is largely a matter of convenience, as there is greater clearanceat this point.

It is not mv intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in thedrawings, -'t being apparent 1 that such may be va 'ed without departing the invention.

* Having described the invention, what .I

claim as new and desirerto haveprotected. =1 @byr-Letters Patent, 1s

r 1: An electrolytic cell embodying therein a casing, means dividing the lower part of saidcasinginto a plurality-o communicatia electrolyte cqmpartnse i r per pa-rt thercof into ai plurfl ll y communicating gas chambers, means com municating with the cell below the normal levelot' the electrolyte therein and with atmosphere. whereby said electrolyte may flow between said cell and said means with varying pressure conditions therein a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the non nial level of the electrolyte therein,- avalve arranged in said pipe, undactuating means for saidvalve comprising means responsive to variations of the level of the electrolyte in the cell, and operative connections be tween said means and said valvev whereby said valve will be opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches a subnormal level and will be closed. when the electrolyte in the cell .isat the normal level.

2. An electrolytic cell embodying therein a casing, meansidividing the lower part of ing electrolyte compartments and the up per part thereof into a plurality of noncommunicating gas chambers, means communicating with the cell below the normal level of theelectrolyte therein and with atmosphere, whereby said electrolyte may flow between said cell and said means with varying pressure conditions therein, a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the normal level of the electrolyte therein. a valve arranged in said pipe. and actuating means for said valvecomprising a float slidably mounted upon said pipe within the cell, whereby it will rise and fall with variations of the level of the electmlyte therein, and operative connections between said means and said valve whereby said valve will be opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches a subnornial level and will be closed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level.

3. An electrolytic cell embodying there in a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the normal level of the electrolyte therein. a valve arranged in said pipe. and actuating means for said valve comprising;- a float slidably mounted upon said pipe. within the cell, whereby it will rise and fall with variations of the level of the electrolyte therein, a rod passing through said pipe, connections between the lower end thereofv and said float, and. a rocking lever having one arm thereof operatively connected withsaid valve and the other arm thereof pivotally connected with said rod, whereby said valvewillsbeopened when the electrolyte in the cell. 7 reaches the sub- .normal level. and will beclosed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level. saidrod being insulated in relation to said valve.

.. 4. electrolytic, cell embodying. therein Inc a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the normal level of the electrolyte therein, said pipe being formed in two sections, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart, a container for distilled water about the adjacent ends of said pipe sections, a valve arranged in said pipe, and actuating means for said valve comprising means responsive to variations of the level of the electrolyte in the cell, and operative connections between said means and said valve whereby said valve will be opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches a subnormal level and will be closed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level.

5. An electrolytic cell embodying therein a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the normal level of the electrolyte therein, said pipe being formed in two sections, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart, a container for distilled water about the adjacent ends of said pipe sections, a

valve arranged in said pipe, and actuating means for said valve comprising a float slidably mounted upon said pipe within the cell, whereby it will rise and fall with variations of the level of the electrolyte therein, and operative connections between said means and said valve whereby said valve will he opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches a snbnormal level and will be closed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level.

6. An electrolytic cell embodying therein a pipe leading from a source of distilled water supply and discharging within a cell below the normal level of the electrolyte therein. said pipe being formed in two sections, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart, a container for distilled water about the adjacent ends of said pipe sections, a valve arranged in said pipe, and actuating means for said valve comprising a float slidably mounted upon said pi e within the cell, whereby it will rise and fall with variations of the level of the electrolyte therein, a rod passing through said pipe, connections between the lower end thereof and said float, and a rocking lever having one arm thereof o 'icratively connected with said valve and the other arm thereof pivotally connected with said rod. whereby said valve will be opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches the subnormal level, and will be closed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level, said rod being insulated in relation to said valve.

7. An electrolytic cell embodying therein a tank forming the outer electrode, a cover therefor, means adjacent the edge of said tank and said cover dividing the upper part of said tank into two non-communicating gas chambers, and forming a liquid seal about the upper edge thereof communicating with atmosphere, a fill cup carried by saic cover, a pipe section leading from adjacent the bottom thereof to within said tank and terminating below the normal level of the electrolyte therein, a tank containing a supply of distilled water, a second pipe section leading therefrom and discharging into said fill cup, said two pipe sections forming means for delivering distilled water from said supply tank to said first named tank, having a gap in the length thereof surrounded by said fill cup, whereby gases from the gas chamber through which said first named pipe section passes may escape to atmosphere in the e vent of a blowout, a valve arranged in said pipe section opening into said fill cup, and actuating means for said valve comprising a float slidably mounted upon said pipe within the cell, whereby it will rise and fall with variations of the level of the electrolyte therein, a rod passing through said pipe, connections between the lower end thereof and said float, and a rocking lever having one arm thereof operatively connected with said valve and the other arm thereof pivotally connected with said rod, whereby said valve will be opened when the electrolyte in the cell reaches a subnormal level, and will be closed when the electrolyte in the cell is at the normal level, said rod being insulated in relation to said valve.

8. The combination with a plurality of electrolytic cells, a tank containin a supply of distilled water, and a pipe lea ing therefrom and extending adjacent each of said cells, of a plurality of leads therefrom adjacent and discharging within said cells respectively below the normal of the electrolyte therein, each of said leads having a valve arranged therein, and actuating means for said valves respectively comprising means responsive to variations of the level of the electrolyte adjacent the discharge end of the lead containing the valve, and operative connections between said means and said valve, whereby the valve associated with each cell will be opened when the electrolyte m that cell reaches the subnormal level, and

will be closed when the electrolyte is at the normal level, and the delivery of distilled water to each of said cells will be independent of every other cell and will be controlled by the conditions within that cell alone.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 26th day of May, 1920, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC H. LEVIN. Witnesses CHAs. R. MATHEWS, MARIE A. BAUER. 

